International Ski Area Test Winners Revealed

Skiareatest President Klaus Hönigsberger hosted the Skiareatest Awards and Seals of Quality ceremony. A festive Thursday afternoon in Snow Space Salzburg at the new Flying Mozart middle station. Numerous representatives from the cable car and tourism industry came to Wagrain and were excited to watch the awards ceremony for the best of the past summer and winter season. Moderator Thomas Mussger and Klaus Hönigsberger welcomed the 250 guests in attendance, including the chairman of the Austrian cable car association Franz Hörl, the Salzburg State Councilor DI Dr. Josef Schwaiger, world champion and Olympic gold medalist Fritz Strobl, the president of the Salzburg Municipal Association Günther Mitterer and the deputy mayor of Rattenberg Franz Schweiger.

• The Gastein cable cars can count themselves among the best of the 2023/24 winter season! The overall prize "European Test Winner 2024" as well as the awards "Friendliest Cable Car Staff", "Piste Guidance System" in gold and the "Marketing Trophy" in gold went to the popular ski area, which offers perfect slopes for all ability levels. The proud board member Andreas Innerhofer was delighted to receive the special award "Best Cable Car Management".
• The esteemed “Rising Star of the Year 2024” award in double gold went to the successful cable car company Bergbahn Kitzbühel, as did the “Piste Rescue & Safety Trophy” in gold, the “Marketing Trophy” in platinum and the “Snowmaking Trophy” in gold. For years, KitzSki has been one of the best-awarded ski areas in the International Ski Area Test.
• Zauchensee was named the “Ski Area Test Winner 2024” in gold. The team was also awarded the “Snowmaking Trophy” in gold and the “Kids” special award for promoting young talent. Reinhard Perwein received the “Operations Manager Trophy” and the gastronomy also scored points: The Gamskogelhütte was awarded the “Most Popular Ski Hut” award and the Arenaalm was awarded the “Most Popular Mountain Restaurant” award.
• The people in charge of the Corvatsch ski area in Switzerland were delighted to receive the “Ski Area Test Winner Switzerland 2024” award, as well as the “Fun & Action” gold award, “Event Trophy” gold award, “Snowmaking Trophy” gold award, “Safety Trophy” gold award and the coveted “Cable Car Operator of the Year 2024” award for Markus Moser, CEO.
• The Annaberg lifts in Lower Austria, particularly popular with families and children, received the award for “Best Family Ski Area” as well as the “Kinderland Trophy” in gold and the “Most Popular Cable Car Staff”.
• Another excellent “family ski area” can be found in Tyrol: the Bergeralm guarantees visitors wonderful days of winter sports and was delighted to receive the “Snowmaking Trophy” in gold, the “Safety Trophy” and the “Operations Manager Trophy” for Florian Raffl.
• The Dachstein cable cars were tested according to the proven criteria of the International Ski Area Test and were able to win the following awards: “Adventure & Family Mountain 2024” in double gold, “Ideas & Implementation” in gold, “Kinderland Trophy” in gold and “Most Popular Cable Car Staff”.
• The Styrian ski resort Hauser Kaibling received the awards for “Adventure & Family Mountain 2024” in gold, “Children's Land Trophy” in gold, “Snowmaking Trophy” in gold and the “Operations Manager Trophy” for Anton Schwab. From the coming winter season, snow sports enthusiasts at Hauser Kaibling will be able to reach the mountain with Styria's most powerful chairlift.
• The Vorarlberg cable car company Oberlech am Arlberg was awarded for the “Best Piste Team” and the Kriegeralpe for the “Most Popular Ski Hut” and Stefan Stemberger was delighted to receive the “Operations Manager Trophy”. And a special award went to the unique tourism pioneer Fridolin Lucian, who received the “Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award”.
• Managing Director Nina Kofler was honored with the “Cable Car Operator of the Year 2024” trophy. The Hochalmlifte Christlum also received the awards for “Most Popular Cashier Team” and the “Snowmaking Trophy” in gold.
• A special award went to the Mitterbach mountain railways: the “Cleanliness Trophy” in gold and “Piste Guidance System” in gold and the personal awards “Operations Manager Trophy” for Franz Grießle and “Best Cable Car Management” for Andreas Markusich.
• The “Special Award” for the 50th anniversary was awarded to the Riesneralm Bergbahnen, as was the award for “Ideas & Implementation” in gold and the “Kinderland Trophy” in double gold. Commercial Councillor Erwin Haider was delighted to receive the special “Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement” award.
• In Saalbach you can find the “Ski School of the Year 2024” double gold and the “Sports Shop of the Year” gold. The SkiLL team also received the gold award for “Friendliest Sports Shop Team”.
• The Pinzgablick mountain restaurant in the Kitzbühel ski area offers visitors hospitality and the highest culinary delights with a magnificent view and has been awarded the “Most Popular Mountain Restaurant” in gold and the “Friendliest Restaurant Staff” award.
• The Hotel Rasmushof at the foot of the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Landlady Signe Reisch and her staff welcome guests 365 days a year and offer an unforgettable stay. The hotel was awarded the gold “Most Popular Alpine Hotel” award and the team received the “Friendliest Restaurant Staff” award.
• Further awards were given in the categories of piste rescue and safety. Snow Space Salzburg and the Salzburg Red Cross were awarded the gold “piste rescue innovation trophy”. The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service for Lower Austria/Vienna was presented with the gold “rescue and safety trophy”. And Heli Austria was delighted to receive the gold “piste rescue innovation trophy”.

The "International Piste Quality Seal" is awarded by the Skiareatest for three years, after which a new test follows and if all important criteria are met, the seal of quality is extended. For the 2023/24 winter season, the following ski areas were able to receive the "International Piste Quality Seal": Bergeralm (Tyrol) in triple gold, Bergbahn Kitzbühel (Tyrol) in triple gold, Annaberger Lifte (Lower Austria) in double gold, Dachstein Tourismus (Upper Austria) in double gold, Gasteiner Bergbahnen (Salzburg) in double gold, Hochalmlifte Christlum (Tyrol) in double gold, Bergbahnen Mitterbach (Lower Austria) in double gold, Riesneralm Bergbahnen (Styria) in double gold, Corvatsch (Graubünden/CH) in gold, Hauser Kaibling (Styria) in gold, Skilifte Oberlech (Vorarlberg) in gold, Zauchensee (Salzburg) in gold. Further seals of quality can be awarded by the Skiareatest after certain criteria have been met. The Bergeralm received the “International Piste Quality Seal – Natural Snow” in gold and the “Toboggan Run Quality Seal”, the Hochalmlifte Christlum the “Toboggan Run Quality Seal”, Dachstein Tourismus the “International Ski Touring Quality Seal” in double gold and Austria Ski Veranstaltungs GmbH the “International World Cup Piste Quality Seal” in gold. In addition, those responsible at the company received the “Event Trophy” in gold for the perfect execution of the Zauchensee Ski World Cup.

The International Ski Area Test team is on the road not only in the winter season, but also in the summer, testing tourism destinations according to tried and tested criteria. The following winners were delighted to receive an award:

• The "Test Winner 2024" in gold can be found in Styria, the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, which also received the "Art & Culture" awards in double gold and the "Sustainability Trophy" in gold. The Glacier Restaurant was awarded the award for "Most Popular Mountain Restaurant" in gold. Georg Bliem, the top cable car manager and tourism professional, was given a special honor; he was allowed to accept the special award for his life's work.
• The Sörenberg cable cars were voted “Test Winner of Switzerland 2024”. Many different offers and activities await guests of all ages. The hiking trails were also awarded the “International Summer Seal of Quality” in double gold, the “Sustainability Trophy” in gold and the Brienzer Rothorn summit restaurant was awarded the “Most Popular Mountain Restaurant” award in gold. René Koller was named “Cable Car Operator of the Year 2024”.
• Particularly popular with families, Austria's most beautiful hiking pasture offers unforgettable summer days. The awards "Family Mountain 2024" in gold, "Most Popular Cashier Team", "Kinderland Trophy" in gold and "Most Popular Mountain Restaurant" for Soderkaser were awarded to the Almenwelt Lofer. Managing Director Willi Leitinger was presented with the special award "Cable Car Operator of the Year 2024".
• The team at the Mitterbach mountain railway in Lower Austria received the following awards: "Adventure & Family Mountain 2024", "Fun & Action" in gold, "Safety Trophy", "Friendliest Railway Staff". In addition, the "International Summer Seal of Quality" was awarded for the cart track in triple gold. The mountain cart track offers fun & action and promises an adventurous ride.
• The Pfingstegg cable car in the Swiss Grindelwald was named “Adventure & Family Mountain 2024” in gold. The “Cleanliness Trophy” in gold, the “Fun & Action” and “Most Popular Cashier Team” awards as well as the “International Summer Seal of Quality” for the toboggan run went to the successful company.
• Another winner can be found in Switzerland: Hoher Kasten in St. Gallen, where those responsible were delighted to receive the “Green Mountain Award” in double gold, the “Cleanliness Trophy” in gold and the “International Summer Seal of Quality” in gold for the hiking trails. The revolving restaurant, which rotates on its own axis once every hour, was awarded the “Most Popular Mountain Restaurant” award in gold.
• The special award for “Art & Culture” double gold was given to the La Strada cultural festival in Graz. The Universalmuseum Joanneum from Styria was also delighted to receive this award. Stummer Schrei, a cultural festival in the Tyrolean Zillertal, was also delighted to receive this award.

After the awards ceremony, guests enjoyed a pleasant get-together in the Kogelalm. Skiareatest President Klaus Hönigsberger, Vice Presidents Harald Posch and Charly Knes, and Honorary President Leo Jeker congratulated the winners again and thanked everyone involved for the successful event and the sponsors for their support.

In 2025, the International Ski Area Test will celebrate its 30th anniversary and Klaus Hönigsberger revealed that the awards ceremony will take place in Rosi's Sonnbergstuben in Kitzbühel.